Category: Uncategorized

Regional seminars to revitalise Vinnies

WelCom July 2019: Mike Fitzsimons A series of regional seminars are being run throughout New Zealand focusing on spiritual renewal and the recruitment of new members to join the Society of St Vincent de Paul. The seminars, run by the Society’s National Spiritual Adviser Fr Jeff Drane, are being held in the coming months in response […]

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A saintly man committed to peace and justice

WelCom July 2019: Zachariah Duke Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche Community, passed away on 7 May 2019, aged 90. As someone who was blessed to share a friendship with Jean Vanier over a number of years, it seems almost unimaginable to accept that he is no longer with us. It has been difficult for me […]

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Joy Cowley a Finalist in 2019 Mind Body Spirit Literary Awards

WelCom July 2019: One of New Zealand’s best-loved writers, Dame Joy Cowley – a regular contributor to WelCom – is a finalist in this year’s Ashton Wylie Mind Body Spirit Literary Awards’ Book category for her non-fiction work Veil Over Light. Joy joins four other authors from all over the country writing about issues as wide-ranging […]

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The Size and Shape of Parables

WelCom July 2019: “Parables of sight, parables of hearing, they can nourish us in so many ways.” As we get older, we tend to lose sharpness of sight and hearing, but those same inner senses can become more acute. It’s as though life experience teaches us to see and hear new truth beyond the surface of […]

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Papal honour for exceptional stewardship

WelCom July 2019: Brendan Quirk A joyful Mass of love and thanksgiving was concelebrated on Sunday 26 May 2019, at a packed-out St Anthony’s Church, Seatoun, Wellington, of the Holy Trinity Parish. Mrs Julie Marshall was presented with a Benemerenti Medal and framed scroll, which Pope Francis had awarded in January this year. Fr Ephrem Tigga […]

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Sr Joan Manson celebrates her 90th birthday

WelCom July 2019: Ethne Maher A large group of family, Sisters of Mercy and friends gathered in Palmerston North to celebrate Sr Joan Manson’s 90th birthday on 28 May this year. Sr Joan was born in Whanganui where she spent her childhood years as well as in Palmerston North. After leaving school she worked as a […]

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Supporting better connections and communication

WelCom July 2019: ‘Come to the Water, You Who Are Thirsty’ – Isaiah 55:1 Kelly and Luana Durston Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) team members invited Bishop Charles Drennan to their monthly meeting, in Pahiatua in April this year, to share their WWME mission and experience. The team is grateful for Bishop Charles’ support for their planned […]

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Seasons for Growth

WelCom July 2019: For more recent information about Seasons for Growth please go to https://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/about/catholic-social-services/seasons-for-growth/ or https://wn-catholicsocialservices.org.nz/Seasons%20for%20Growth. David Olivier, Director Catholic Social Services Many in our community suffer loss and grief in different forms, which often take time to heal and, in some cases, do not quite heal. For young people of school-going age, when a family […]

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On a Mission

WelCom July 2019: Marlene Richards My involvement with St Vincent de Paul, through our parish of The Holy Spirit Te Wairua Tapu, Lower Hutt, and my various charity works, prompted me to arrange a visit to two charities while holidaying [with husband Mike] in India during Lent this year. Our Lenten intention was ‘help in anyway […]

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Whanganui marks Venerable Suzanne Aubert birth date

WelCom July 2019: ‘I believe Mother Aubert was no social worker, but rather a Jesus worker,’ Fr Nathaniel Brazil said in his homily at midday Mass celebrating her birth date on 19 June 2019. Parishioners were involved in the ministries and Mass concluded with Fr Chris Skinner’s song With our Mother Suzanne and a reading of […]

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